STB to hold hearing on MMA abandonment in July
Written by jrood
The federal Surface Transportation Board announced today that it would hold a public hearing in Presque Isle, Maine, on July 7, 2010, to allow interested persons to comment on the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway, Ltd.'s application to abandon 233 miles of line in Aroostook and Penobscot Counties.
The hearing will begin at 9
a.m. at the District Court House, 27 Riverside Drive, Presque Isle.
Based on parties’ earlier
notices of intent to participate in a hearing, the Board has set a schedule of
speakers; however, given that the hearing has been rescheduled, parties are not
obligated to appear.
In February 2010, MMA filed
an application to discontinue service and abandon the line. The State of Maine opposed MMA’s
proposal, and sought funds-partially through a successful bond referendum
earlier this month-to acquire the line and preserve service, should the Board
grant MMA’s application.
Following a June 8, 2010
meeting of MMA, the State, and Board mediation staff, MMA asked the Board to extend
the schedule in this case so that the State could participate in confidential mediation
over the line’s future. Favoring negotiated dispute resolution, the Board
granted MMA’s request. On June 18,
2010, the parties notified the Board that they are at an impasse.
The Board stated that it
must balance MMA’s interests against the public interest of facilitating
continued rail service.
Offers of Financial
Assistance (OFAs) to either purchase the line or subsidize its continued
service are due by July 19, 2010, but the start of the OFA process may be postponed
pending the Board’s final decision.
The Board scheduled the
July 7 hearing in its decision issued June 22 in Montreal, Maine & Atlantic
Railway, Ltd.-Discontinuance of Service and Abandonment-In Aroostook and Penobscot
Counties, ME, Docket No. AB-1043 (Sub-No.1.
